Taste Test in Seattle

The weekend trip was so much fun and excellent food was found! I had dinner with my aunt at a vegetarian restaurant in Seattle named Cafe Flora. In addition to the entire menu being vegetarian they offer many vegan and gluten free choices as well. The weight staff was extremely knowledgeable and when I explained my dietary restrictions they made several excellent suggestions. We started with Fried Green Tomatoes with Cajun Aioli which were perfectly done in a cornmeal batter. Next we had a Lentil Pate platter with Pickled Vegetables, Balsamic Onions and an Olive Mix. The Lentil Pate was served with Rosemary Flatbread for gluten eaters and an amazing gluten free Pita bread that was true in its flavor and amazingly, had excellent texture. It was so good I was almost worried it wasn't gluten free. I had my aunt try it as a quality assurance since her taste buds aren't gluten deprived like mine are and she agreed, it really was just excellent bread. To finish the evening our main course was a Crispy Sage Polenta topped with Roasted Fall Vegetables and Shitake Mushroom. It was served with a Basil Cashew Cream and a Pear and Clove Chutney. To say the least I was one happy and content lady when the meal was over!

The next morning we visited the Flying Apron bakery. This bakery is a real gem. All the bakery items are gluten free, vegan and free of refined sugar. It was a little taste of heaven! My aunt and I chose a Pecan Cinnamon roll, Peanut Butter Breakfast Bar and a slice of Orange Cardamon Cake. Each item was good, but the cake stole the show. The frosting was light and flavorful and the cake had a good texture. The funniest part of the morning taste test extravaganza was that our real favorite ended up being my 2 year old cousins pick from the day old bin, a Marionberry Corn Muffin. It was just the right amount of sweet and was surprisingly moist. I guess next time we go we'll let the little man do the picking!

Not only was the weekend delicious, it got the culinary creativity going. I'll be sure to post the new creations as I make them. And if you are ever in Seattle make sure to stop by Cafe Flora and the Flying Apron. It will make your trip!

Weekend Trip

A weekend trip to Seattle most importantly to see family but also do complete some gluten free and vegan food research/tasting in hopes of being further inspired in my own creations. I'll post about the results! Stay tuned!

News!

The house is full of delicious smells as I trial recipes for the Anti-Inflammatory cookbook I was asked to help create with Dr. Natasha Kassam and Dr. Kate Smith. I took a break and rewarded myself with a taste test... pumpkin strudel muffins with apple cider to drink. A couple of revisions and I think it is a winner! The goal is to have the cookbook out by the end of next year. A lofty ambition but we are all working hard to make it come true. I will keep you all posted as the cookbook develops.

Fall Snack

There's a dedicated gluten free bakery on the corner of Alberta and MLK in NE Portland that recently came to my attention - Tula! It has a fun modern feel with plenty of places to sit and enjoy whatever treat you've chosen. Though everything is gluten free, the vegan menu is a bit more sparse. However, they do offer a range of dairy free alternatives for the lattes that fortunately extends beyond soy.

I was beyond content with my vegan pumpkin loaf and freshly brewed chai latte with hemp milk. I am picky about my chai and Tula's was the perfect balance of spicy with a subtle sweetness. The hemp milk floamed up well also.

Give Tula a try! It's worth the drive if you're not in NE. And what a great name for a place!

Customized Dinner Party

Felicity ~ Creating happiness with allergen free food
Hooray for the first of many Felicity dinners! On last night's menu: olive tapenade - tomato bruschetta salad with GF crostini - gluten free lasagna with creamy pesto, spinach and mushroom - eggplant rolls with vegan ricotta and marinara - roasted fall vegetables - salted chocolate. All the items were dairy, casien, gluten, preservative and refined sugar free! And only the vegan ricotta contained soy. A big thank you to all who were there consuming! Your support is greatly appreciated!

Bookings for customized dinner parties start in 2012. Contact Jessica at jmattson@felicityallergenfree.com or via FB for more info or to book a dinner!

Business up and running!

Hello all! The meal planning side of Felicity is up and running! $150 for a two week customized meal plan or $275 for a four week meal plan! The meal plan includes daily breakfast, lunch and dinner menus and 2 snack ideas for each week complete with detailed recipes, all printed and organized for your convenience.

The push for 2012 is customized dinner parties and cooking classes; will keep you posted!

Contact Jessica at jmattson@felicityallergenfree.com if you are interested! Eat well, be well.